Video: BJ Mack commits to South Carolina men's basketball
Less than a week after a success recruiting visit to South Carolina, BJ Mack has committed to the Gamecocks. Giving Lamont Lamont Paris and USC a major pickup via the transfer portal.
The 6-foot-8 forward received plenty of offers after leaving Wofford. A place where he appeared in 85 games and started in 69 of them. Before his time with the Terries, he began his career at South Florida.
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In the past two seasons, he averaged 16.5 points per game and shot better than 51 percent from the field. That includes this past season where he shot nearly 60 percent from inside of the arch and also added more than 5 rebonds per game. His play earned him second-team All-SoCon as a junior and first-team all-conference honors this past year.
Mack chooses South Carolina over Alabama, Iowa, and LSU. Gamecock Central has learned that over the past few days it became a two-team race with USC edging out the Crimson Tide.
One of the reasons why this was the case was because of the group effort by this Gamecocks coaching staff. A recruiting effort that took everyone and beyond. And I mean everyone. Get this. During Mack’s visit last weekend, he was greeted by custom pictures and shirts at dinner that said, “We want BJ in Columbia.” Hall’s staff workers even wore those shirts when they brought out his desert and chanted, “We want BJ.” Mack, along with his family, were blown away.
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Mack is the fourth transfer that South Carolina has landed this off-season. He joins point guard Ta’Lon Cooper from Minnesota, forward Stephen Clark from the Citadel and Vanderbilt forward Myles Stute.
One more thing that shouldn’t be overlooked is the impact of having Carey Rich on staff. A former Gamecock captain, who also has worked for the city of Columbia, he’s been able to bring a unique perspective when it comes to recruiting. As he’s been able to not only sell the university, which is once played for, but how it’s helped him build relationships throughout the state ever since.
